Manipulator for rails or the like



Feb. 10, 1942. s. w. BAUER 2,272,02

MANIPULATOR FOR RAILS OR THE LIKE Original Filed Sept. 1, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 10, 1942. s. w. BAUER 2,272,502

MANIPULATOR FOR RAIL-S OR THE LIKE Original Filed Sept. 1, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheei 2 Feb. 10, W42. 5. w. BAUER MANIPULATOR FOR RAILS OR THE LIKE 4 Shets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Sept. 1, 1938 Feb. 10, 1942. s. w. BAUER MANIPULATOR FOR RAILS OR THE LIKE Original Filed Sept. 1, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 10, .1942

MANIPULATOR ron ms on THE LIKE Stewart W. Bauer, Harrisburg, Pa., assignor to Bethlehem Steel Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application September 1,1938, Serial No.

227,871. Divided and this application February 28, 1941, Serial N0. 380,981

Claims. (Cl. 198-33) My invention relates to manipulators and more especially to improvements in mechanism for turning over and otherwise manipulating rails or the like articles of various sizes adapted to be charged into or received from cooling boxes or tanks for the controlled cooling of rails, and is a division of my copending application, Serial No.

227,871, filed September 1, 1938.

Up to a few years ago it was the usual practice in the manufacture of railway rails to roll the rail and cut it into standardlengths of 33 feet, although rails are and were sometimes cut in double lengths, or 66 feet. As the head of the rail has a considerably greater thickness than the flanges, when the rail leaves the final roll pass the flanges will be somewhat cooler than the head and will not contract as much as the head of the rail when cooled. If the rail section was allowed to cool in this'manner the tread surface of the head of the rail would be slightly concaved while the base surface of the rail would be correspondingly convex. To compensate for this greatershrinkage of the head of the rail, the rail sections just after they have been cut into lengths are given a slight camber so that the head of the rail is slightly convex while the base of the rail will be correspondingly concaved. In this manner when the rail cools it will be substantially straight. After the rail sections are cambered they were transferred to a hot bed and allowed to cool and then conveyed to the rail finishing building and run through a straightening machine.

It has been found in actual practice that rails which are allowed to cool quickly on the hot bed very often fail in service on account of shatter cracks which are formed therein during the quick cooling operation. To prevent the formation of shatter cracks in the rails they are now allowed to cool to about 932 F. on the hot bed and then transferred to cooling boxes or tanks where they are allowed to remain and cool slowly for about twenty-four hours or until cold.

When the rails reach the proper temperature on the hot bed, they are pushed ofi preferably five at a time onto a roller feed table which advances the rails to a work receiving table opposite the cooling boxes, of which twelve are shown, all in one line, five on one side of the work receiving table and seven on the other.

When the rails are on the hot bed and when they are advanced to the work receiving table adjacent to the cooling boxes they are supported on their sides in the position shown in Figure 3;

this is desirable for the reason that when rails are shifted supported on their bases the flanges of the rails which are comparatively thin have a tendency to ride over each other and become twisted. In order to align the rails properly in parallel relation with the cooling boxes, the rails have to be righted or turned substantially a quarter of a revolution with their heads'uppermost as indicated in Figure 4. The five rail sections now seated on their bases are then picked up by means of a pair of magnets which are suspended near each end of the rail sections from an overhead travelling crane and charged into one of the cooling boxes. Each cooling box is wide enough to receive a row of ten rail sections. After the first row has been charged into a cooling box additional rows are superimposed thereon until the cooling box is filled and a cover is then placed over, the top of the same. After the rails have been cooled slowly in the manner described, they are taken out of the cooling boxes five at a time by means of the magnets and then turned on their sides, as indicated in Figure 3, but with their heads extending in the reverse direction and conveyed to a gagging press where the rails are finally straightened and then conveyed to the rail shipping yard.

Heretofore this turning and aligning the rail sections before charging them into the cooling boxes and after the controlled cooling operation has been done manually which required considerable time and labor as the rails are very heavy and hard to manipulate, especially when the rails are hot.

With my device I can automatically turn and align a plurality of rail sections whereby the time required for this operation is greatly reduced and manual labor for performing this operation eliminated.

One of the objections of my invention relates to the manner of automatically turning a plurality of rail sections or the like disposed on their sides and supported on a work receiving table to an upright position resting on their bases with their heads uppermost.

Another object of my invention relates to the manner of aligning the plurality of rail sections after they have been turned to rest on their bases.

Another object of my invention relates to the means for supporting a pluralityof rail sections on their bases above the work receiving table just after they have been taken out of the cooling boxes.

A further object of my invention relates to the mechanism for turning the rail sections on their sides and depositing them on the work receiving table after the controlled cooling operation.

Other objects and details of my invention will hereinafter appear.

Having thus given a general description of my invention, I will now, in order to make the same more clear, refer to the accompanying four sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like characters refer to like parts. a

. Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a rail treating plant showing the general arrangement of the cooling boxes for the controlled cooling of rails and the parts of the mill adjacent thereto;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the roller work.

receiving table located between the cooling boxes and the rail manipulating device associated therewith;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation with parts in section of the roller work receiving table and a portion of the rail manipulating device taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, but drawn on a larger scale with the rails supported on their sides on the work receiving table in the position they assume when they are received from the hot bed;

Fig. 4 is an elevation also taken on the line 3-4 of Fig. 2, showing the position of the rails after they have been pushed laterally off the roller work receiving table over the arc-shaped plates at the forward ends of the slide rails onto the link belt chain conveyors whereby the rails are rotated a quarter of a revolution and seated on their bases and advanced to the stops to align the rails; d

Fig. 5 is a detail longitudinal section through the forward end of one of the sliding bars taken on the line 55 of Fig. '7, showing more clearly the manner of mounting the pusher fingersz Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a portion of one of the rail manipulators drawn on a larger scale.

Referring now to the various characters of reference upon the drawings, the numeral l designates a portion of the roller table leading from the rolling mill, upon one portion of which (not shown) the rail is received after the finishing roll pass and cut into lengths and each section given a slight camber to compensate for contraction during the cooling operation. The rail sections are then pushed or transferred lying on their sides onto the hot bed 2, where they remain until they reach the proper desired temperature; they are then pushed off preferably five at a time onto the roller table 3 and advanced still resting on their sides to the work receiving table 4 located between the cooling boxes 5, as shown in Figure 1. As illustrated in Figure 1, seven cooling boxes are located on one side of the work receiving table and five on the other, this number may be. varied if desired. Before charging the rail sections 6 into the cooling boxes they have to be turned with their heads uppermost and resting on their bases and then aligned. This is accomplished by manipulating means in which the numeral 1 indicates a pair of spaced rails mounted on supports 8 near each end of the work receiving table 4. Each pair of spaced rails I are adapted to form a slideway for a sliding bar 9 each having a rack ill on its lower surface meshing with a pinion l l on shaft i2 adapted to be rotated by means of a motor l3. A pusher finger I4 is pivoted as at sliding bar 9 having a downwardly weighted extension I! for normally holding the pusher finger in a vertical position.

Figure 3 illustrates the rail sections 6 disposed on their sides and the forward end of the slide bar in the retracted position. when it is desired to turn the rail sections so the heads will be uppermost, the sliding bars are advanced until the pusher finger ll pivoted to each sliding bar engages the head of the rail adjacent thereto, and as the sliding bars 8 continue to advance the rail sections are pushed over the arc-shaped surface ll of the plates 19 secured to the forward end of one of each of the pairs of rails I and thereby each of the rail sections is turned substantially a quarter of a revolution and seated with their bases on the pair of spaced link belt -chain conveyors 20 which carries them laterally until they engage the stops II;

In order to support the central portion of the rails a skid 22 is secured to support 23 at a point midway between the two sliding bars 8 having a plate 24, with an arc-shaped surface 2! similar to the plates l8 and adapted to assist in turning the rail'sections I.

These link belt chain conveyors each have an idler sprocket wheel 26 at one end having their axles 21 Journaled in bearings 28 which are backed up by means of a thrustor block 29 and a sprocket wheel 30 supports the opposite end of each of the link belt chain conveyors which are mounted on a shaft 3| journaled in bearings 32 which is driven by means of a motor 33. A guide 34 is secured to the superstructure 35 for supporting the central upper portion of each of the link belt chains 20.

After the rail sections have been turned and assembled in alignment as indicated in Fig. 4, a magnet is lowered from an overhead travelling crane (not shown) to engage the heads of each of the end portions of the rail sections and they are thereby raised and charged into a cooling box in rows of ten each, the five rail sections forming half a row. a

If the rail sections are not properly aligned after reaching the stationary stops 2|. the travel of the link belt chain conveyors can be reversed until the rail section at the opposite side of the row engages the pivoted stops 3!, each having an extension 31 adapted to normally hold the pivoted stops in a vertical position.

After the first row of ten rail sections has been placed in the cooling box the operation is continued by superimposing a plurality of similar rows of rail sections thereon until the cooling box is filled, a cover is then placed over the cooling box and the rails are allowed to cool slowly for about twenty-four hours, or until they have become cold, or cool enough to stand handling. The two magnets suspended from the overhead travelling crane then pick up the rail sections five at a time and transfer them to skids 18 which extend upwardly from each of the sliding bars 9. The rail sections will then be seated on their bases with their heads uppermost in the position illustrated in Figure 6. The rail sections now have to be turned on their sides. To accomplish this step brackets 39 are secured to each pair of slide rails I at an intermediate point and extend upwardly therefrom and are connected together at their upper ends by means of an angle lll. A horizontally extending arm ll is pivoted centrally as at 42 to the brackets, each having an offset forward end 43 adapted to IS in a recess IS in the forward end of each eng a rail section and a rearwardly extended 45 for holding the arm normally in a stationary A position.

To turn the railsections on their sides the sliding bars are retracted and in so doing the rail section adjacent to the offset forward ends 43 of the arms 4| will be engaged and as the sliding bars continue to slide backward'ly the rail sec-' tions will pass over the concaved forward ends 46 of the skids 38 and be turned on their sides in a similar manner to that shown in Figure 3, but with the heads in the reverse direction. The work receiving table will then be actuated by means of the motor 41 and the rail sections will then be advanced to the roller table 3, where they are pushed 01f into the finishing building 48 and passed through a gagging press (not shown), and then conveyed to the rail shipping yard 49.

For illustration, I have described my invention as adapted for manipulating five rail sections at a time, but I wish it understood that I may vary this number without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Although I have shown and described my invention in considerable detail, I do not wish to be limited to the exact and specific details shown and described, but may use such substitutions, modifications orequivalents thereof, as are embraced within the scope of my invention or as 7 pointed out in the claims,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a manipulator for turning and arranging a plurality of rails or the like in parallel relation for conveying, comprising a work receiving table, skids for supporting a plurality of rails above the work receiving table, said skids each having a concaved end portion, means for reciprocating the supporting skids, and pivoted arms adapted to engage a rail during the reciprocation of the skids and push the plurality of rails over the concaved end portions of the skids thereby turning the rails approximately ninety degrees on their axes and transferring them to the work receiving table.

2. In a manipulator for turning and arranging a plurality of rails or the like in parallel relation for conveying, comprising a work receiving table, skids for supporting a plurality of rails on their bases above the work receiving table, an are shaped surface formed at one end of each skid, means for reciprocating the supporting skids, and a pivoted arm adapted to engage a rail during the reciprocation of the skids and push the plurality of rails over the are shaped end surfaces of the skids thereby turning the plurality of rails approximately ninety degrees and transferring the said plurality of rails to the work receiving table and supporting them on their sides in parallel. relation.

3. In a manipulator for turning and arranging a plurality of rails or the like in parallel relation for conveying, comprising a work receiving table, slide ways extending transversely through the work receiving table, a sliding bar adapted to reciprocate in each slide way, skids extending upwardly from each sliding bar adapted to support a plurality of rails above the work receiving table, a concaved surface formed at one end of each skid, means for reciprocating the sliding bars, and a pivotedarm adapted to engage a rail during the reciprocation of the sliding bars and push the plurality of rails over the concaved surfaces at the ends of the skids thereby turning the rails approximately ninety degrees during the transferring operation.

4. In a manipulator for turning and arranging V a plurality of rails or the like in parallel relation for conveying, comprising a work receiving table, slide ways extending transversely through the work receiving table, a sliding bar adapted to reciprocate in each slide way, skids extending upwardly from each sliding bar adapted to support a plurality of rails above the work receiving table, a pivoted arm above each sliding bar having an offset end adapted to engage a rail and push the plurality of rails from the skids onto the work receiving table during the backward stroke of the sliding bars, and means at the forward ends of the skids for turning each of the plurality of rails approximately ninety degrees on their axes.

5. In a manipulator for turning and arranging a plurality of rails or the like in parallel relation for conveying, comprising a Work receiving table, slide ways extending transversely through the work receiving table, a sliding bar adapted to reciprocate in each slide way, skids extending upwardly from each sliding bar adapted to support a plurality of rails on their bases, concave surfaces formed at the forward ends of each skid, an arm pivotally supported above each sliding bar having an offset end adapted to engage a rail and push the plurality of rails from the skids over the concaved ends thereby turning the rails on their sides and depositing them on the work receiving table during a stroke of the sliding bars,

6. In a manipulator for turning and arranging a plurality of rails or the like for conveying, comprising a work receiving table adapted to receive a plurality of rails thereon, slide ways extending transversely through the work receiving table, a sliding bar mounted in each slide way, a pair of skids extending upwardly from said sliding bars for supporting the rails each having a concaved end portion, means for reciprocating the sliding bars, and a pivoted arm adapted to engage a rail during the reciprocation of the sliding bars and push the plurality of rails over the concaved end portions of the skids thereby successively rotating the rails substantially ninety degrees on their axes during the backward stroke of the said sliding bars.

7. In a manipulator for turning and arranging a plurality of rails or the like in parallel relation for conveying, comprising a work receiving table, skids for supporting a plurality of rails above the work receiving table each having a concaved end portion, means for reciprocating the skids, and pivoted arms adapted to engage a rail to push the plurality of rails over the concaved end porttons of the skids thereby turning the rails approximately ninety degrees on their axes during the backward stroke of the said skids and transferring them to the work receiving table.

8. In a manipulator for turning and arranging a plurality of rails or the like in parallel relation for conveying, comprising a work receiving table, slide ways extending transversely through the work receiving table, a sliding bar adapted to reciprocate in each slide way, skids extending upwardly from each sliding bar adapted to support a plurality of rails vertically disposed on their base flanges above the work receiving table, a concaved surface formed at the end of each skid, means for reciprocating the sliding bars thereby transferring the rails from the skids to the work receiving table on the backward stroke of the sliding bars, and a pivoted arm adapted to engage a rail during the reciprocation or the sliding bars and push the plurality of rails over the concaved end portions of the skids thereby turning the rails approximately ninety degrees and depositing them on their sides on the table during the transferring operation.

9. In a manipulator for turning and arranging rails or the like for conveying, comprising a work receiving table, slide ways extending transversely through the work receiving table, a sliding bar adapted to reciprocate in each slide way, skids extending upwardly from the sliding bars adapted to receive a plurality of rails and supporting them on their bases above the work receiving table, concaved surfaces formed at the forward ends of each of the skids, an arm pivotally supported above each sliding bar having an oilset end adapted to engage a rail adjacent thereto and push the plurality of rails from the skids over the said concaved ends or the skids thereby turning the rails on their sides and depositing them on the work receiving table during a stroke of the sliding bars.

10. In a manipulator tor turning and arranging rails or the like for conveying, comprising a work receiving table, slide ways extending transversely through the work receiving table. a sliding bar adapted to reciprocate in each slide way, skids extending upwardly from the sliding bars, means for reciprocating the sliding bars to retract the skids out oi alignment with the work receiving table or to advance the skids into alignment with the work receiving table to receive a 

